As the countdown begins for Sunday's eagerly anticipated World Cup final between reigning European champions Spain and Copa America winners Argentina, a former Spanish international has been denied entry into the United States – despite being invited to witness his country's historic clash with the Argentinians. Joan Capdevila, 48, a former full-back who played for Villarreal and Deportivo, had applied for an electronic visa waiver (ESTA) but was unsuccessful in his bid to travel to New York's MetLife Stadium.
Capdevila's ESTA application has been denied due to his participation in a charity football match against an Iranian all-star side in Tehran during 2016. Under current US immigration regulations, individuals who have travelled to certain countries – including Iran – may not be eligible for an ESTA and are often required to apply for a traditional visa.
This development follows reports of Somali referee Omar Artan being dropped from officiating at the tournament after he was also denied entry into the United States last month. US officials reportedly refused Artan entry at Miami International Airport on 8 June, citing his "association with suspected members of terror organisations."
Capdevila's situation has sparked an impassioned plea to US President Donald Trump for intervention, with the former World Cup winner taking to social media platform X to express his distress at missing such a significant moment with his football-loving children. By tagging the US President, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the Spanish government's ministry of sport in his appeal, Capdevila highlights the emotional impact of this decision on families like his own.
The World Cup final is set to be a thrilling encounter between two highly skilled teams, with Spain having secured their spot by defeating France 2-0, while Argentina staged a late comeback to beat England 2-1 in their semi-final match. This high-stakes competition will undoubtedly captivate British fans tuning in from across the globe – but for Capdevila and his family, it has become an unfulfilled dream due to bureaucratic red tape.